Chapter 3

Her words hit him like a bucket of ice water—

and I watched the flicker of emotion in Adrian Holt’s eyes die instantly.

The guilt, the brief softness… gone.

In their place came a sharp, wounded anger.

“Frost,” he snapped at me, “your assignments are determined by the organization. Don’t try to manipulate me like this. When your leave ends, you’ll report back. And stop entertaining thoughts you shouldn’t have.”

I actually wanted to laugh.

But my lips wouldn’t move.

I parted them to speak—

and he cut me off again.

“Right. You’re Fianna’s sister. Her place collapsed last night—the whole damn side wing caved in. Since you have extra rooms here, she’ll stay with you for now.”

“No.”

“If you want to ‘take her in,’ let her stay at your place.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Adrian barked. “A man and a woman living under the same roof? What would people say?”

“Then find her someplace else.”

I wasn’t backing down.

“Frost!” His voice dropped into a dangerous growl. “You’re being unbelievably selfish. Fianna’s husband died for the family—she’s a widow of the family. As the future Donna, you should know how to treat the relatives of our fallen men.

And she’s your sister!”

Future Donna?

Selfish?

I looked at him—at that righteous fury like he was some saint—and all I felt was a bitter, humorless laugh rising in my throat.

When he denied my transfer requests again and again, leaving me to freeze and bleed in the Border—was I the future Donna then?

When he kept giving my return slots to other soldiers, so I couldn’t even see my dying grandmother one last time—

where was this lecture on duty?

Now he wanted to preach?

I was tired. Bone-deep tired.

“Don,” I said, steadying my breath even as something sharp twisted deep in my chest, “Fianna can stay. But only for seven days. When my leave ends, she leaves too. If she’s still here after that… I won’t be polite.”

“You—” Adrian began.

But Fianna gently touched his sleeve, her eyes shimmering like she was one breath from tears.

“Adrian… don’t fight with my sister. Seven days is fine. My house should be repaired soon. I won’t trouble Frost longer than that.”

Her soft, fragile act made me look cold. Cruel. Heartless.

Adrian swallowed his anger, turned to her, and said, “Stay for now. If you need anything, call me.”

Then he faced me—his voice low, hard.

“Treat her well. No attitude.”

And he turned and walked out without a single glance back.

The moment the gate shut, Fianna’s entire demeanor snapped away like a discarded mask.

“Surprised to see me, Frost?” she said, voice dripping venom. “Adrian called me back himself. He even picked me up from the station.”

My hand paused over the table I was wiping, but I didn’t answer.

She stepped closer.

“I’ve loved Adrian since I was a kid. But he only ever saw you. Funny how things change, isn’t it?”

Her eyes glittered with malice.

“God, you look nothing like the girl who used to turn heads at every gala. No wonder Adrian keeps denying your transfer. Men don’t bring back what’s already lost its shine.”

She leaned in, whispering like she wanted every word to cut.

“You can’t hold a man because you’re not worth holding. But don’t worry—I’ll take good care of him. After all… I’m a widow of the family. He has a ‘duty’ to me.”

I lifted my eyes to her then.

She flinched.

“Are you done?” I asked quietly.

She blinked, taken aback.

“Then go back to your room,” I said, resuming my work. “You’re ruining the view.”

Fianna stiffened, furious, but something in my indifference made her swallow whatever insult she wanted to spit.

She huffed, turned, and slammed the guest room door.

I finished cleaning, showered in the cramped bathroom, and went to my room.

Her lights were off.

I didn’t care enough to wonder why.

I closed my door and slept.

—

Shouting tore me out of my sleep.

“Fianna! Fianna—hey! Stay with me! Wake up!”

Adrian’s voice.

My heart lurched into my throat.

I threw on a coat and ran outside—

—and froze.

The courtyard was still blanketed with untouched snow.

And Fianna was curled in the corner, wearing nothing but a thin nightdress, skin blue-white, lips nearly black, shivering like she’d spent the entire night freezing alone.